Abstract Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris) is traditionally grown as a rainfed crop globally, except in Sudan and Egypt, where it is grown under supplemental irrigation. Its seed is a rich source of protein for human consumption, and the straw is a valued animal feed in Near East. In the Mediterranean environment, lentil productivity is limited primarily by the amount and distribution of rainfall and temperature extremes. This study aimed to develop simple models to predict lentil seed and straw yields as a function of seasonal weather data (rainfall and temperature). Historical weather and yield trial data over 39 environments from three contrasting locations in Syria and Lebanon were used. Best-fit models for seed and straw yields in terms of climatic variables based on stepwise regression were developed. These accounted for over 77% variance in yield for both models. The overall responses to total seasonal rainfall were 5.16 kg ha−1 mm−1 seed yield and 10.7 kg ha−1 mm−1 for straw yield. Although May (period of pod-filling) rain contributed substantially to seed yield, high May temperatures reduced yield drastically. For straw yield, absolute minimum temperature and February temperature are important factors, in addition to total seasonal rainfall. The simple regression models developed from historical data not only describe the variation in lentil yields but can also be used for yield prediction purposes in the Near East.
[1]
S. Chatterjee.
Sensitivity analysis in linear regression
,
1988
.
[2]
J. B. Dent,et al.
Systems Simulation in Agriculture
,
1979,
Springer Netherlands.
[3]
W. Erskine,et al.
Rainfall and temperature effects on lentil (Lens culinaris) seed yield in Mediterranean environments
,
1993,
Journal of Agricultural Sciences.
[4]
A. Hadjichristodoulou.
The effects of annual precipitation and its distribution on grain yield of dryland cereals
,
1982,
The Journal of Agricultural Science.
[5]
S. Ceccarelli,et al.
Yield response of barley to rainfall and temperature in Mediterranean environments
,
1993,
The Journal of Agricultural Science.
[6]
M. Saxena,et al.
Adaptation of Lentil to the Mediterranean Environment. II. Response to Moisture Supply
,
1993,
Experimental Agriculture.
[7]
Theib Oweis,et al.
Water use and water-use efficiency of chickpea and lentil in a Mediterranean environment
,
2000
.